Race track



Oct. 29, 1968 A. A. WEINSTEIN 3,408,066

RACE TRACK Filed Oct. 18, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. A.A. WEINSTEIN ATTORNEY Oct. 29, 1968 A. A. WEINSTEIN 3,403,066

vRACE TRACK Filed Oct. 18, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 STRETCH INVENTOR. A.A. WEINSTEIN ATTORNEY Oct. 29, 1968 A. A. WEINSTEIN 3,408,066

:RACE TRACK Filed Oct. 18, 1965 1 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 g STRETCH 58 INVENTOR.

A.A. WEINSTEIN ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,408,066 Patented Oct. 29, 1968 3,408,066 RACE TRACK Albert A. Weinstein, 2486 Devoe Terrace, Bronx, N.Y. 10468 Filed Oct. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 496,754 Claims. (Cl. 272-5) v ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An improved race track provided with a movable rail section at the final turn before the homestretch thereby narrowing the turn portion providing additional inside passing lanes along the homestretch. The movable rail section is directly pivoted on the fixed rail section. A movable overlapping chord section is employed to smooth the transition between the two rail pieces.-The movable rail section may be split horizontally allowing the different pieces to occupy different positions.

This invention relates to an improved race track construction useful in any kind of a racing contest around a closed track as it improves the opportunities of following contestants without reducing the geometrical advantage of the leading contestant, but it is especially useful for trotting horse races and will 'be described for that application.

The usual trotting track is oval shaped with a straight homestretch and straight backstretch connected by opposed turn portions. An inner hub rail and outer rail define the track or racing area. As is obvious, the shortest distance around the track is along the hub rail, and the usual driver strategy is to obtain a rail position and maintain it throughout the race. The lead horse thus retains the advantage of traversing the shortest dirstance. Following horses along the rail have the advantage of reduced wind resistance in following behind the lead horse, but then must pull out from the hub rail during the race, usually along the homestretch, in order to pass and vanquish the front runner. Horses running further out from the rail have significantly larger distances to cover and suffer a distinct handicap. More important, however, is that horses running along the outside frequently box in [horses on the rail preventing them from pulling out. As a consequence, strategical positioning rather than horse ability frequently determines the outcome of the race. This consequence reduces spectator and bettor interest.

In my prior Patent No. 3,166,314, I describe an improved race track construction for obviating the abovementioned difficulties, which takes the 'form of a movable hub rail construction which is moved out over the track racing area to narrow the turn portion preceding the I homestretch. As a consequence, there is formed at the widened homestretch entrance along the inner rail at least one or two inside passing lanes for following horses. To provide a smooth transition between the fixed and movable rail portions, my prior patent describes in a preferred embodiment the use of an offset portion connecting together the movable and fixed rail portions.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved movable rail construction for the purposes above described, which improved rail is characterized by simplicity and low cost.

A further object of the invention is to provide a movable rail construction requiring less or simpler auxiliary equipment for moving same.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved movable rail construction which is simpler and easier to operate than the known constructions and yet affords a smooth transition which reduces possible distraction of horses and riders.

These and other objects of the invention as will appear hereinafter are achieved as will be briefly described below. In accordance with my invention, I directly hinge the movable rail portion along the turn on the adjacent fixed rail section, so that only a relatively simple pivot action is required to shift the movable rail between its two positions. To obtain the desired smooth transition between the fixed and movable rail portions, in accordance with a further feature of my invention, I provide an intervening chord rail section which may be made tangent to the fixed and curved rail sections. As a further feature, I provide the movable rail section with a special curvature different from that of the fixed rail section to provide a smooth and nondistracting transition between the two rail pieces.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of my invention, I split at least a portion of my movable rail section along a generally horizontal plane allowing the split rail sections to occupy different positions to achieve the aforementoned objects.

Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of several preferred embodiments thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a race track in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the turn rail portion preceding the homestretch showing a preferred construction of my movable rail in the retracted or closed position in which it resembles a normal track;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the rail shown in FIG. 2 along the line 33;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the rail section shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the rail section of FIG. 2 after moving to the extended or open position by which the inside passing lanes are made available;

FIG. 6 shows a modification of the chord sections;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another modification;

FIG. 8 is a top diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the modification of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 of another modification.

As is described in my prior Patent No. 3,166,314, the track illustrated in FIG. 1 has the usual closed oval shape, which includes a straight homestretch 1 opposite a spectator grandstand 2, a straight backstretch 3, a curved turn portion 4 connecting the homestretch 1 and backstretch 3 and preceding the latter, and a curved turn portion 5 connecting the other ends of the backstretch 3 and homestretch 1 and preceding the latter. The finish line 6 is usually near the end of the homestretch 1. A hub rail 8 extends along the inner edge of the running area, and a rail 9 circumscribes the outer edge of the running area. With this simple geometry, it is readily seen that the shortest distance around the track is along the hub rail 8, so that the lead horse invariably occupies that position. The second or third or other following horses have to pull out from a rail position and swing around the outside of the lead horse in order to vanquish the latter. This occurs most often at the beginning of the homestretch, which is, of course, from the spectators view, the most exciting and enjoyable part of the race. Now, in a trotting race, the horse pulls a sulky with a width of about 4 /2 feet. Thus, the second rail horse has to move out about 6 feet to pass the lead horse. The third rail horse, to achieve a front position, must move out about 12 feet, a handicap that is rarely overcome. Further, other horses running alongside the second and third rail horses may box them in preventing them from challenging the lead horse. If the second or third horse finding itself in this position is also the favorite, the spectator reaction is adverse which is to the detriment of the sport.

- In my invention, as described in my prior patent, before the horses reach the final turn before the homestretch, the hub rail portion preceding the homestretch is moved outward 11 (shown in phantom) toward the outer rail 9 narrowing the turn portion preceding the homestretch. Thus, the lead horse following the rail enters the homestretch at a point spaced sufficiently far from the hub rail 8 to enable at least one and preferably two additional horses to swing in toward the hub rail 8 along the homestretch and be in an unimpeded position to challenge the leader. Thus, my movable rail construction at the final turn makes available on the inside one or two passing lanes for following horses in addition to those normally available along the outside. Boxing in of following horses is minimized by this construction providing a truer contest. The dash-dot line construction 11 in FIG. 1 illustrates the extended hub rail position for the final stretch run.

FIG. 2 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a movable hub rail construction in accordance with my present invention which offers a number of advantages over the constructions described in my prior patent. The hub rail along the homestretch is designated by reference numeral 15, and is usually straight whereas the curved hub rail portion along the preceding turn is designated 16. Both of the latter rail sections are supported and fixed in position by suitable posts 17 and define the inside limit of the racing track area corresponding to the hub rail section designated 8 in FIG. 1. The movable hub rail section which connects together these two fixed sections 15 and 16 is designated 20. It comprises a curved rail member or beam 21 having substantially the same curvature as the preceding fixed curved rail section 16 and is attached to the latter as follows. The end portion 22 of the rail section 16 has a reduced height terminating in a tongue portion 23. The adjacent end 24 of the rail member 21 also has a reduced height terminating in a grooved portion 25 which engages the tongue portion 23 to form a simple hinge or pivot. The pivot point is a pin 26 extending through holes in the tongue 23 and groove 25 portions and whose ends are supported in a U-shaped opening of the projecting end 27 of an olTset support or post 28 (FIG. 3) secured in the ground inside of the racing area. As will be noted from FIG. 4, in the retracted position, the movable rail section 21, 24 forms a smooth extension of the fixed rail 16, 22 to the rail section 15 along the stretch which is tangent thereto.

Mounted above and below the reduced height pivoted ends 22, 24 are a pair of substantially straight chord sections 30 and 31. Both chord sections 30 and 31 in the retracted position of the movable rail straddle the curved rail sections 22, 24 just inside of the hinge pin 26 so that they are effectively inactive, i.e., they extend inside of the track racing area and do not serve to define the inner track periphery. The upper chord section 30 may be a fiat beam whose ends are pivoted where the reduced height sections 22, 24 join the main bodies of the curved rail sections 16, 21. The lower chord member 31 may be a channel member pivoted at the same location. The shape of these members is chosen to minimize any changes in appearance of the rail to reduce distraction. As will be noted, the combined height of the chords 30, 31 and the sections 22 or 24 is approximately the same as that of the adjacent rail sections 16 and 21. The pivot or hinge at the fixed curved rail section 16 is provided by a pin 33 which extends through a hole in the latter and which is secured to the ends of the upper 30 and lower 31 chord sections whereby the latter can pivot together as a unit. At the opposite end is another hinge pin 34 secured to the ends of the two chord sections 30, 31. but this pin engages a slot 35 in the curved rail 21 as shown in FIG. 4. As will be also seen in FIG. 4, the movable rail 21 at its opposite end has a portion 36 which extends inside the track underneath a raised end portion 37 of the stretch rail section 15. The driving or moving means for the movable rail 21 comprises, for example, a hydraulic cylinder 40, one end of which is secured by a universal joint 39 to a post 41 anchored to the ground, and the piston end 42 of which is connected also by a universal joint 43 to the inside of the movable rail section 21 and also supports the latter in horizontal position above the ground. If the cylinder support is insufficient, one or more rollers 44 may be provided underneath the movable rail section 21 to help support same in its horizontal position.

In operation, when the cylinder is actuated, either manually or electrically, and the piston 42 extended a prescribed amount, as shown in FIG. 5, the rail section 21 is moved outwardly over the track racing area, as illustrated at 11 in FIG. 1, forming the inside passing lanes 12 at the beginning of the stretch. The rail section 21 pivots about the pin 26 of the offset support 28. This action causes the upper and lower chord sections 30, 31 automatically to pivot about pin 33 as a center and thus to shift outwardly to an active position wherein they now define the inner perimeter of the track racing area. As will be observed, these chord sections are now, in the extended position of the movable rail, substantially tangent to the fixed 16 and movable rail sections 21 forming a smooth transition between them and hiding the cusp 45 that forms at the pivot point. The slot 35 guides the pivot pin 34 as it moves toward the fixed curved rail section 16 and provides an adjustment for the length increase that results. Upon retraction of the piston 42, the rail returns to the position shown in FIG. 4 and the chord sections 30, 31 are again rendered inactive.

The advantages of the above-described construction over the constructions described in my prior patent are as follows. Only a simple rotation of the movable rail section about a fixed pivot point is necessary to shift the movable rail from its retracted position which it occupies during the early part of the race to its extended position for the stretch run which makes available the inside passing lanes. The discontinuity or cusp formed at the pivot point is hidden by the automatic shifting outwardly of the upper and lower chord sections which sandwich the curved rail section portions at the pivot. By reason of the simpler motion involved, a simpler driving mechanism can be employed, which minimizes cost. As a result, distraction to the horses and riders is also minimized.

While the transition-forming chord sections 30 and 31 are shown straight in FIGS. 4 and 5, it will be appreciated that if the extended straight section is undeired, it can be angled or bent close to the center as shown at 48 in FIG. 6, or given some other curvature which will blend it smoothly into the curved sections 16 and 21 when the latter is in its extended position. It will also be appreciated that only a single chord section may be employed, mounted above or below the reduced height extensions 22 and 24. The double chord arrangement illustrated provides a closer resemblance to the normal rail.

It will further be observed that by splitting the movable rail section into portions of different curvature, i.e., the straight chord sections 30 and 31 above and below the intervening curved section of reduced height 24, which is rendered active and inactive with movements of the rail, the rail construction is simplified, made less cumbersome and thus reduced in cost, and rendered less distracting. FIGS. 7 to 9 show further variants. In this case, a fixed curved rail portion 50 at the turn is provided which extends directly into the fixed straight portion 51 along the stretch. The curved connecting piece 52 is also fixed but of approximately half the height. The other half 53 of the split connecting piece is movable and is pivoted on a pin 54 secured in the fixed lower half 52. The driving and support means may be a rotatable hydraulic cylinder 55 similar to that illustrated in FIG. 2. The movable rail section 53 has a curvature which differs from that of the underlying fixed section 52, as will appear more clearly in FIG. 8. The curvature of the fixed section 52 is the same as that of the remaining turn portions 50 and is defined by a radius R The movable section 53 has a larger curvature defined by a larger radius R The center of radius R is moved outward toward the backstretch and sideways toward the other turn when the movable section 53 is in its outward or extended position 53'.

In operation, during the beginning of the race, the movable portion extends inside the track edge and thus is inactive, as shown at 53 in FIG. 8. The fixed section 52 is thus rendered active. During the stretch run, the movable section is moved outward by the driving means 55 to extend over the track racing area, as shown at 53', thus providing the inside passing lanes 12. In this latter position, it is rendered active, whereas the fixed section 52 is rendered inactive. The increased curvature of the movable section 53 minimize the discontinuity formed at the pivot 54, and the horses and riders see a curvature of the inside rail which does not noticeably differ from the ordinary rail. The change can be minimized in another way by providing the movable rail section with a straight piece 57 adjacent the pivot as shown in FIG. 9. In this latter case, the remaining part 58 of the movable section may then have the same curvature as that of the underlying fixed curved portion 52, which may be advantageous. The straight section 57 then forms a tangent to the connected curved portions 50, 58. As a further alternative, the movable curved section can be given a spiral curvature, which would thus fall between the curvatures illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. A spiral curve is characterized by a first portion, which would lie adjacent the pivot 54, which is almost straight, with succeeding portions exhibiting a constantly decreasing radius of curvature. If the support for the movable rail half 53 provided by the actu ating means 55 is insufiicient, then additional support hydraulic cylinders can be provided. Alternatively, the fixed section 52 can be located on top, and the movable section 53 underneath and thus supported by rollers on the ground.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the movable portion 10 subtends an angle 6 of about It may also include a straight section 14 at the end, so that the horses are travelling straight when the additional inside passing lanes 12 become available. The movable curved portion can be varied from a small length subtending an angle 0 of about 10, to a longer length subtending an angle 0 of about 75. Longer movable lengths complicate unduly the means for efiecting the movement but minimize the change at the transition region. Below about 10 it is very difficult to make available two inside passing lanes and avoid a sharp discontinuity between the fixed hub rail at the turn and the movable section, which would distract drivers and horses. About a 20 section provides two inside passing lanes without undue distraction.

An example, which is not to be considered as limiting, of the dimensions of a movable rail as illustrated in FIG. 2 in accordance with my present invention for a recommended Trotting Association one-half mile track now follows. The rail parts may be conventional, comprising about 20" and 8" boards joined at their junction to form the well-known L-shaped hub rail. For an angle 0 equal to about 20, the curved rail section 21 is about 104 feet, with the extra projection 36 constituting about 32 feet of the latter. The length of the chord sections 30, 31 may be about 35 feet, whose ends are pivoted about 17 /2 feet from the pin 26. The section 36 at the stretch is easily moved outward over the track a distance of about 12 feet providing two inside passing lanes 12. The rail transitions from curved 16, to straight 30, 31 to curved 21, 36 are hardly noticeable and will not distract horses or drivers.

It will be clear from the foregoing that my invention offers a distinct improvement over existing tracks, especially for one-half mile tracks for harness racing. It enables at relatively low cost and with little disturbance of existing facilities improved race tracks providing less chance for boxing in of strong contenders and in general a truer contest afiording greater spectator enjoyment.

While I have described my invention in connection with specific embodiments and applications, other modifications thereof will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A race track comprising a generally oval track having substantially straight homestretch and backstretch portions interconnected by curved turn portions, a hub rail extending around the track along the inside edge and conformig to its shape and including, in the order named, a fixed curved rail section and a movable curved rail section along the turn portion preceding the homestretch and a fixed straight rail section along the homestretch, means for moving the movable rail section from a retracted position adjacent the inner edge of the track to an extended position on the track whereby the said preceding turn portion may be selectively narrowed relative to the homestretch portion providing a wider area for passing including inside passing lanes at the beginning of the homestretch, hinge means directly connecting together the adjacent ends of the fixed and movable curved rail sections, the movable rail section comprising a curved rail smoothly connecting together the fixed curved rail section and the fixed straight rail section along the homestretch and rendered at least partially active in its retracted position and substantially active in its extended position, means inactive when the movable rail section is in its retracted position but rendered active when the movable rail section is in its extended position for forming a nondistracting smooth transition section over the discontinuity formed at the hinge means, said last-named means comprising an overlapping chord section connected to the movable and fixed curved rail sections and extending in the retracted position inwardly of the hinge means straddling the curved rail sections and extending thus inside of the track and being inactive, and means for automatically shifting the chord section outwardly to an active position when the movable rail section is moved to its extended position.

2. A race track as set forth in claim 1 wherein the chord section is pivoted in an opening in the fixed curved rail section, and is also pivoted in a slot in the movable rail section.

3. A race track as set forth in claim 1 wherein plural connected chord sections are provided above and below the hinge means.

4. A race track as set forth in claim 1 wherein the end of the fixed curved rail section and the adjacent end of the movable curved rail section are directly hinged about a fixed pivot point oifset from a support, and the chord section, extends across the fixed pivot point and forms a tangent to the fixed and movable curved rail sections when the latter is in its extended position and thus hides the discontinuity formed at the pivot point.

5. A race track as set forth in claim 4 wherein the movable curved rail section includes a portion at the end opposite to the pivot point which extends oif of and inside of the track racing area in the retracted position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 920,346 5/1909 Kronenberger 2725 1,634,326 7/1927 Jennings 272-5 2,757,930 8/1956 White ct al. 2725 2,836,419 5/1958 White et a1. 272--5 3,166,314 1/ 1965 Weinstein 272-5 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

A. W. KRAMER, Assistant Examiner. 

